Facilitation of physical layer design for 5G networks or other next generation networks

ABSTRACT

A more efficient 5G network can be achieved by leveraging a centralized radio access network (CRAN) and/or a virtualized radio access network (VRAN) architecture to comply with transport bandwidth requirements for better performance. Additionally, linear compression techniques can be used to reduce the transport bandwidth. Compression on a fronthaul can be achieved by utilizing the concept of spatial compression. After a signal has been compressed, it can be decompressed in accordance with a number of antennas.

RELATED APPLICATION

The subject patent application is a continuation of, and claims priorityto, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/368,146 (now U.S. Pat. No.10,257,105), filed Dec. 2, 2016, and entitled “FACILITATION OF PHYSICALLAYER DESIGN FOR 5G NETWORKS OR OTHER NEXT GENERATION NETWORKS,” theentirety of which application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to facilitating a physical layerdesign for 5G networks or other next generation networks. For example,this disclosure relates to facilitating a cloud radio access networklayer design for multiple-input and multiple-output 5G radio accessnetworks.

BACKGROUND

5th generation (5G) wireless systems represent the next major phase ofmobile telecommunications standards beyond the currenttelecommunications standards of 4^(th) generation (4G). Rather thanfaster peak Internet connection speeds, 5G planning aims at highercapacity than current 4G, allowing higher number of mobile broadbandusers per area unit, and allowing consumption of higher or unlimiteddata quantities. This would enable a large portion of the population tostream high-definition media many hours per day with their mobiledevices, when out of reach of wireless fidelity hotspots. 5G researchand development also aims at improved support of machine-to-machinecommunication, also known as the Internet of things, aiming at lowercost, lower battery consumption and lower latency than 4G equipment.

The above-described background relating to a physical layer design ismerely intended to provide a contextual overview of some current issues,and is not intended to be exhaustive. Other contextual information maybecome further apparent upon review of the following detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the subject disclosureare described with reference to the following figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various viewsunless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example schematic system block diagram of aphysical layer model for centralized radio access network according toone or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example schematic system block diagram of a splitradio access network model according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example schematic system block diagram of acentralized radio access network model comprising a spatial compressionaccording to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example schematic system block diagram of ageneral overview of possible radio access network protocol split optionsaccording to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example schematic system block diagram of a remoteunit side of a generalized view of physical level functions withphysical split according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example schematic system block diagram of acentralized unit side of a generalized view of physical level functionswith physical split according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example flow diagram for compressing physicallayers of a radio access network according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example flow diagram for compressing anddecompressing physical layers of a radio access network according to oneor more embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example flow diagram for compressing anddecompressing physical layers of a radio access network based on afilter weight according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example flow diagram for compressing anddecompressing physical layers of a radio access network based on afilter weight and a signal noise according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example block diagram of an example mobilehandset operable to engage in a system architecture that facilitatessecure wireless communication according to one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example block diagram of an example computeroperable to engage in a system architecture that facilitates securewireless communication according to one or more embodiments describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. One skilled inthe relevant art will recognize, however, that the techniques describedherein can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, orwith other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances,well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown ordescribed in detail to avoid obscuring certain aspects.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” or “anembodiment,” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in oneembodiment,” “in one aspect,” or “in an embodiment,” in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments.

As utilized herein, terms “component,” “system,” “interface,” and thelike are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, hardware,software (e.g., in execution), and/or firmware. For example, a componentcan be a processor, a process running on a processor, an object, anexecutable, a program, a storage device, and/or a computer. By way ofillustration, an application running on a server and the server can be acomponent. One or more components can reside within a process, and acomponent can be localized on one computer and/or distributed betweentwo or more computers.

Further, these components can execute from various machine-readablemedia having various data structures stored thereon. The components cancommunicate via local and/or remote processes such as in accordance witha signal having one or more data packets (e.g., data from one componentinteracting with another component in a local system, distributedsystem, and/or across a network, e.g., the Internet, a local areanetwork, a wide area network, etc. with other systems via the signal).

As another example, a component can be an apparatus with specificfunctionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric orelectronic circuitry; the electric or electronic circuitry can beoperated by a software application or a firmware application executed byone or more processors; the one or more processors can be internal orexternal to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of thesoftware or firmware application. As yet another example, a componentcan be an apparatus that provides specific functionality throughelectronic components without mechanical parts; the electroniccomponents can include one or more processors therein to executesoftware and/or firmware that confer(s), at least in part, thefunctionality of the electronic components. In an aspect, a componentcan emulate an electronic component via a virtual machine, e.g., withina cloud computing system.

The words “exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” are used herein to meanserving as an example, instance, or illustration. For the avoidance ofdoubt, the subject matter disclosed herein is not limited by suchexamples. In addition, any aspect or design described herein as“exemplary” and/or “demonstrative” is not necessarily to be construed aspreferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs, nor is it meantto preclude equivalent exemplary structures and techniques known tothose of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, to the extent that theterms “includes,” “has,” “contains,” and other similar words are used ineither the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intendedto be inclusive—in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as an opentransition word—without precluding any additional or other elements.

As used herein, the term “infer” or “inference” refers generally to theprocess of reasoning about, or inferring states of, the system,environment, user, and/or intent from a set of observations as capturedvia events and/or data. Captured data and events can include user data,device data, environment data, data from sensors, sensor data,application data, implicit data, explicit data, etc. Inference can beemployed to identify a specific context or action, or can generate aprobability distribution over states of interest based on aconsideration of data and events, for example.

Inference can also refer to techniques employed for composinghigher-level events from a set of events and/or data. Such inferenceresults in the construction of new events or actions from a set ofobserved events and/or stored event data, whether the events arecorrelated in close temporal proximity, and whether the events and datacome from one or several event and data sources. Various classificationschemes and/or systems (e.g., support vector machines, neural networks,expert systems, Bayesian belief networks, fuzzy logic, and data fusionengines) can be employed in connection with performing automatic and/orinferred action in connection with the disclosed subject matter.

In addition, the disclosed subject matter can be implemented as amethod, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programmingand/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware,or any combination thereof to control a computer to implement thedisclosed subject matter. The term “article of manufacture” as usedherein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device, computer-readable carrier, orcomputer-readable media. For example, computer-readable media caninclude, but are not limited to, a magnetic storage device, e.g., harddisk; floppy disk; magnetic strip(s); an optical disk (e.g., compactdisk (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), a Blu-ray Disc™ (BD)); a smartcard; a flash memory device (e.g., card, stick, key drive); and/or avirtual device that emulates a storage device and/or any of the abovecomputer-readable media.

As an overview, various embodiments are described herein to facilitate aphysical layer design for 5G networks or other next generation networks.

For simplicity of explanation, the methods (or algorithms) are depictedand described as a series of acts. It is to be understood andappreciated that the various embodiments are not limited by the actsillustrated and/or by the order of acts. For example, acts can occur invarious orders and/or concurrently, and with other acts not presented ordescribed herein. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts may be requiredto implement the methods. In addition, the methods could alternativelybe represented as a series of interrelated states via a state diagram orevents. Additionally, the methods described hereafter are capable ofbeing stored on an article of manufacture (e.g., a machine-readablestorage medium) to facilitate transporting and transferring suchmethodologies to computers. The term article of manufacture, as usedherein, is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from anycomputer-readable device, carrier, or media, including a non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium.

It should be noted that although various aspects and embodiments havebeen described herein in the context of 5G, Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), and/or Long Term Evolution (LTE), orother next generation networks, the disclosed aspects are not limited to5G, a UMTS implementation, and/or an LTE implementation as thetechniques can also be applied in 3G, 4G or LTE systems. For example,aspects or features of the disclosed embodiments can be exploited insubstantially any wireless communication technology. Such wirelesscommunication technologies can include UMTS, Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA), Wi-Fi, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(WiMAX), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced GPRS, ThirdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP), LTE, Third Generation PartnershipProject 2 (3GPP2) Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), High Speed Packet Access(HSPA), Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), High-Speed DownlinkPacket Access (HSDPA), High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), Zigbee,or another IEEE 802.XX technology. Additionally, substantially allaspects disclosed herein can be exploited in legacy telecommunicationtechnologies.

Described herein are systems, methods, articles of manufacture, andother embodiments or implementations that can facilitate a physicallayer design for a 5G network. Facilitating a physical layer design fora 5G network can be implemented in connection with any type of devicewith a connection to the communications network (e.g., a mobile handset,a computer, a handheld device, etc.) any Internet of things (IOT) device(e.g., toaster, coffee maker, blinds, music players, speakers, etc.),and/or any connected vehicles (cars, airplanes, space rockets, and/orother at least partially automated vehicles (e.g., drones)).

Cloud radio access networks (RAN) can enable the implementation ofconcepts such as software defined network (SDN) and network functionvirtualization (NFV) in 5G networks. This disclosure can facilitateimplementation of 5G radio access network (RAN) based on acentralized/virtualized RAN architecture. 5G radio access networks areexpected to be deployed with massive multiple-input and multiple-output(MIMO) antenna systems using a large number of antennas. This disclosureenables the implementation of 5G networks using a centralized radioaccess network (CRAN) and/or a virtualized radio access network (VRAN)architecture by keeping transport bandwidth requirements reasonable, notprecluding or limiting support for advanced 5G receivers, and allowinguse of coordination techniques, such as joint processing, for betterperformance. Although it is very difficult to achieve this combinationof attributes simultaneously in a network deployment, this combinationof attributes can increase efficiencies for a wireless network operator.

Deploying a CRAN architecture for a 5G network with a large number ofantennas can place heightened bandwidth requirements on the transportinterface connecting the remote unit (RU) and centralized unit (CU). ACRAN architecture typically splits the RAN protocol stack at afunctional split point such that the protocol layers below the splitpoint reside at the remote unit while the protocol layers above thesplit point reside at the centralized unit. Protocol layers that resideat the centralized unit can be virtualized in a pooled architecture,thereby enabling benefits related to a software defined network (SDN)and/or network function virtualization (NFV) based network architecture.Therefore, certain embodiments of this disclosure can comprise an SDNcontroller that can control routing of traffic within the network andbetween the network and traffic destinations. The SDN controller can bemerged with the 5G network architecture to enable service deliveries viaopen application programming interfaces (“APIs”) and move the networkcore towards an all internet protocol (“IP”), cloud based, and softwaredriven telecommunications network. The SDN controller can work with, ortake the place of policy and charging rules function (“PCRF”) networkelements so that policies such as quality of service and trafficmanagement and routing can be synchronized and managed end to end.

It can be beneficial to split the protocol as low in the protocol stackas possible. Additionally, when the RAN protocol stack is split at a lowphysical layer interface, it can allow benefits from coordinationtechniques such as joint transmission or a joint reception. However, for5G radio networks comprising a large number of antennas, splitting theprotocol stack deep inside the physical layer can require carrying thedata stream from a large number of antennas at the remote unit to thecentralized unit over a high bandwidth transport link, which can makesuch a CRAN architecture infeasible for 5G radio networks. Thisdisclosure proposes a specific linear compression technique to beimplemented within the physical layer protocol functions that allows thephysical layer to be split at a point that significantly reduces thenumber of data streams that need to be transported over the transportlink from the remote unit to the central unit. Consequently, this doesnot preclude any type of advanced receiver implementation and this setup can support joint processing based coordination techniques.

A lower layer split within the physical (PHY) layer can give rise toother issues. However, a mid-PHY split can satisfy the followingscenarios: 1) it should not preclude the implementation of advancedreceivers; 2) it should maintain the ability to perform joint processing(both joint reception and joint transmission) across multipletransmission points; and 3) it should keep transport bandwidthrequirements reasonable. While LTE receivers have typically been singlestage receivers, more advanced receivers (e.g., turbo equalizers) canbecome the model for a new radio (NR). This is due to advances incomputational power and also because many physical layer design aspectsfor NR (NR is used herein to refer to the next generation radiointerface for 5G) are different from LTE. Some of the mainconsiderations are: higher order MIMO in uplinks (UL), cyclic prefix(CP) less design of waveform, and high frequency bands. For NR there maybe a need to decode multiple spatial layers in the UL when usingmulti-user (MU) MIMO. As the number of MIMO streams increase, thebenefits of advanced receivers can become more significant due to anincrease in inter-stream interference. Additionally, if phase 2 of NRevolves to a CP less design of the waveform, then in addition toexperiencing inter-stream interference, the NR signal can experienceinter-symbol interference as well, thereby benefiting further from suchadvanced receivers. For NR deployment in high frequency bands, advancediterative receivers can assist with the UL link budget and also havepositive implications on the power consumption at the user equipment(UE).

Due to the aforementioned reasons, a PHY layer split option should notpreclude or limit the deployment of any type of advanced receivers forNR. Furthermore, it can be difficult to achieve a common PHY layer splitoption between the uplink and downlink that simultaneously satisfies allthree scenarios listed above. Consequently, a PHY split option can beasymmetric in the downlink and uplink. For the uplink PHY processing,the equalization and forward error correction (FEC) decoding can be atthe CU to allow for more advanced receivers such as turbo equalizationor successive interface cancellation (SIC), thereby satisfying the firstscenario listed above. Also keeping the antenna processing at the CUallows for joint reception (JR) across multiple transmission points,thereby satisfying the second listed requirement as well. However, theproblem is that the number of layers that need to be transported betweenthe CU and RU becomes equal to the number of transceivers (sinceequalization is being done at the CU). It may be observed that eventhough the number of layers may be large, the signals may be highlycorrelated since the number of PHY spatial layers (Ns) can be less thanthe number of transceivers (Nt). This observation leads to thepossibility of using linear compression techniques to reduce thetransport bandwidth scenario on this interface, thereby satisfying thethird listed scenario for the uplink PHY split as well.

Compression on the fronthaul can be achieved by utilizing the concept ofspatial compression. As discussed previously, before the multi-antennastage, the number of streams on the fronthaul can be equal to the numberof antenna transceiver units (txRU), which in massive MIMO systems for5G, can be as high as 32 or 64. However the signals from each antennacan be highly correlated due to the fact that the underlying signals cancomprise a small number of spatial layers (typically 2-4). Spatialcorrelation can then be utilized to collapse the multi-antenna signalinto a smaller dimensional signal space. For instance, the signal can becollapsed to a dimension equal to the number of layers (e.g., 2-4).

On the centralized baseband unit (BBU) side, the signal can bedecompressed back into the full dimension equal to the number ofantennas. Consequently, noise may be introduced into the system due tothe compression and de-compression (especially if the number of bits toquantize each stream is small), but this can be mitigated byimplementing additional advanced multi-antenna receivers at the BBU.

One example of such a linear spatial compression technique is based onMMSE spatial filter. Therefore, if the received signal going into thespatial compression stage is given by,r=Hs+n: where r=[r ₁ . . . r _(N)]^(T) ,n=[n ₁ . . . n _(N)]^(T) ,s=[s ₁. . . s _(L)]^(T)  Equation(1)(in the above equation, r is the received signal, n is the noise, s isthe transmitted signal and H is the multi-antenna channel) then theoptimal MMSE spatial compression filter can be shown as:G=(H ^(H) H+Σ)⁻¹ H ^(H)  Equation (2)Σ=E{nn ^(H)}  Equation (3)

The compressed signal sent over the fronthaul in this case isr′=Gr=(H ^(H) H+Σ)⁻¹ H ^(H)(Hs+n)  Equation (4)

The dimensionality of the r′ can be the same as the dimensionality of s,(e.g., the number of spatial layers of the signal). Once the compressedsignal is received at the BBU, the signal can be decompressed to thefull dimension of the number of antennas. If the link between the RRUand BBU does not introduce any noise (as is the case with a fiber basedfronthaul with sufficient number of bits to eliminate quantizationnoise), then a Penrose-Moore inverse of MMSE spatial filter can be usedfor the decompression stage.G _(inv)=(G ^(H) G)⁻¹ G ^(H)

On the other hand if only a few bits are chosen for each sample tofurther reduce the fronthaul bandwidth, then the de-compression filtercan be given by:G _(inv)=(G ^(H) G+σ ² I(L,L))⁻¹ G ^(H)  Equation (5)

In the above expression for the decompression filter, σ² is the standarddeviation of the quantization noise injected due to low resolution ofthe fronthaul. In both the cases, in order to the compute the optimumde-compression filter at the BBU, the remote radio unit (RRU) needs tosend the filter coefficient of G to the BBU along with the compresseddata. Thus, the full dimension signal can be re-constructed in the BBUas:{tilde over (r)}=G _(inv) r′≈r,  Equation (6)where the reconstructed signal {tilde over (r)} can be copy of theoriginal signal r.

The spatial compression technique can reduce the fronthaul bandwidth formassive MIMO systems by 10× or more. The spatial compression techniquecan depend on the correlation in the received signal due to the spatialsampling of the signal, which comes naturally in the massive MIMOsystem. Any other correlations such a temporal or spectral is notutilized therefore this technique does not need to know any propertiesof the original transmitted signal.

In one embodiment, described herein is a method comprising converting,by a wireless network device of a wireless network, time signal data ofthe wireless network to frequency signal data, resulting intime-frequency data representative of a time-frequency data structure.The method also comprises separating, by the wireless network device, aphysical channel and a reference signal from the time-frequency datastructure, resulting in a number of separated physical layers. Inresponse to the separating, the method can estimate, by the wirelessnetwork device, channel response characteristics and antennacharacteristics of the wireless network; and based on the channelresponse characteristics and the antenna characteristics, the method cancompress, by the wireless network device, the number of the separatedphysical layers, resulting in a reduced number of the separated physicallayers.

According to another embodiment, a system can facilitate, the convertingtime signal data of the wireless network to frequency signal data,resulting in time-frequency data representative of a time-frequency datastructure. The system can facilitate separating a physical channel fromthe time-frequency data structure, resulting in a number of separatedphysical layers. Additionally, based on the separating, the system canestimate a channel response characteristic and an antenna characteristicof the wireless network. Consequently, in response to the estimating,the system can compress the number of the separated physical layers,resulting in a reduced number of the separated physical layers, and inresponse to the compressing, the system can decompress the reducednumber of the separated physical layers.

According to yet another embodiment, described herein is amachine-readable storage medium that can perform the operationscomprising transforming time signal data representative of a time signalof a wireless network to frequency signal data representative of afrequency signal of the wireless network, resulting in time-frequencydata. The machine-readable storage medium can extract physical channeldata representative of a physical channel from the time-frequency data,resulting in a number of separated physical layers. Based on theextracting, the machine-readable storage medium can estimate a channelresponse characteristic and an antenna characteristic of the wirelessnetwork. Consequently, the machine-readable medium can compress thenumber of the separated physical layers, resulting in a reduced numberof the separated physical layers, and generate filter weight datarepresentative of a filter weight associated with the compressing. Inresponse to the generating, the machine-readable storage medium candecompress the reduced number of the separated physical layers.

These and other embodiments or implementations are described in moredetail below with reference to the drawings.

Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated is a physical layer model forcentralized radio access network. The amount of bandwidth needed toconnect the centralized baseband unit (BBU) and the remote radio unit(RRU) can increase linearly with the number of antenna ports and thesystem bandwidth based on the C-RAN architecture of system 100. Analogto digital conversion components 102, 106 can convert one or morereceived analog signals to digital signals prior to sending theconverted digital signal(s) to a fast Fourier transform component 104,108 to convert a time domain signal to frequency domain signal(s) at theRRU. Thereafter, the frequency domain signals can be transmitted over anumber of antennas 128 to a resource de-mapping component 112, 114 priorto being transmitted to a multi-antenna estimation component 110.

The BBU can comprise the resource de-mapping components 112, 114, whichcan separate various physical channels and reference signals from thetime-frequency grid of resource equipment. The multi-antenna estimationcomponent 110 can estimate a MIMO channel response as well as the noiseplus interference co-variance needed for equalization de-mapping. Thesignals can then be passed to a multi-antenna equalizer component 116.The multi-antenna equalizer component 116 can separate the various MIMOlayers from the received signal across all the transceivers. This stepcould be a linear receiver such as minimum mean square error improvedinterference rejection combining (MMSE-IRC) or a non-linear receiversuch as maximum likelihood receiver (ML). The multi-antenna equalizercomponent 116 can also receive inputs from an extrinsic symbollikelihood component 126. Depending on the type of iterative equalizer,the extrinsic symbol likelihood component 126 can computes extrinsicvalues (e.g. for SIC receiver the extrinsic symbol likelihood component126 can compute the soft symbol or for turbo equalizer the extrinsicsymbol likelihood component 126 can computes statistical parameters suchas expectation and signal covariance. Output signals from themulti-antenna component 116 can be received by symbol de-mappers 118,120. The symbol de-mappers 118, 120 can convert signals from the complexsignal in a C^(Nc) domain to soft bits (e.g. log likelihood ratio foreach channel bit). Furthermore, output signals from the symbolde-mappers 118, 120 can be received as inputs at rate matching hybridautomatic repeat request (HARQ) combining FEC decoders 122, 124. Ratematching can match the channel bits to the rate expected at the input ofthe FEC decoder 122, 124. The FEC decoders 122, 124 can also circulatesoft information bits for iterative decoding and hard information bitsfor the final iteration. Additionally, if any HARQ is used the combiningof different transmissions can happen at this stage, but the HARQcombining depends on the type of FEC. For example, for polar codes theHARQ combining is different than what it is for Turbo codes.

Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated is a split radio access networkmodel. To preserve gains from centralization and virtualization aminimum amount of baseband processing can be performed at the RRU andhowever, enough processing has to be performed to reduce the bandwidthrequirement of the fronthaul. As a result, the most C-RAN friendly splitRAN architecture for 5G is where the multi-antenna processing isperformed at the RRU and the rest of the baseband processing canperformed at the RRU. This can reduce the fronthaul bandwidth, which isthis case, can scale with the number of spatial layers and not thenumber of antenna transmission units. In massive MIMO systems the numberof spatial layers can be less, typically between 2-4 spatial layers.This is a factor of 16× or 8× less than the number of antennas, whichmeans that the front haul bandwidth can be reduced by the same amount.

One drawback of such a PHY split is that advanced receivers such as SIC(serial interference cancellation) or Turbo equalizers cannot beimplemented in the uplink (UL). These advanced receivers can iterativelyremove interference from the signal between the multi-antennaequalization and FEC stages. In the split RAN architecture this cancomprise sending the signal iteratively between the RRU and BBU severaltimes (between to 4-8 times). Without an advanced receiver implemented,the coverage and capacity of the UL might be restrained.

System 200 can comprise analog to digital conversion components 102,106, which can convert one or more received analog signals to digitalsignals prior to sending the converted digital signal(s) to a fastFourier transform component 104, 108 to convert a time domain signal tofrequency domain signal(s) at the RRU.

The RRU can also comprise the resource de-mapping components 112, 114,which can separate various physical channels and reference signals fromthe time-frequency grid of resource equipment. The multi-antennaestimation component 110 can estimate a MIMO channel response as well asthe noise plus interference co-variance needed for equalizationde-mapping. The signals can then be passed to a multi-antenna equalizercomponent 116. The multi-antenna equalizer component 116 can separatethe various MIMO layers from the received signal across all thetransceivers. This step could be a linear receiver such as minimum meansquare error (MMSE)-IRC or a non-linear receiver such as ML. Withregards to FIG. 2, the multi-antenna equalizer outputs can betransmitted over a number of physical layers 228 to symbol de-mappers118, 120 can still convert signals from the complex signal in a C^(Nc)domain to soft bits (e.g. log likelihood ratio for each channel bit).Furthermore, output signals from the symbol de-mappers 118, 120 can bereceived as inputs at rate matching HARQ combining FEC decoders 122,124. Rate matching can match the channel bits to the rate expected atthe input of the FEC decoder 122, 124. The FEC decoders 122, 124 canalso circulate soft information bits for iterative decoding and hardinformation bits for the final iteration. Additionally, if any HARQ isused the combining of different transmissions can happen at this stage,but the HARQ combining depends on the type of FEC. For example, forpolar codes the HARQ combining is different than what it is for Turbocodes. With regards to the FIG. 2 architecture, the extrinsic symbollikelihood component 126 either does not exist or cannot computeextrinsic values (e.g., for SIC receiver the extrinsic symbol likelihoodcomponent 126 can compute the soft symbol or for turbo equalizer theextrinsic symbol likelihood component 126 can computes statisticalparameters such as expectation and signal covariance).

Referring now to FIG. 3, illustrated is a centralized radio accessnetwork model comprising a spatial compression. To adjust the fronthaulbandwidth, a split RAN architecture for 5G massive MIMO system can beleveraged. However such a split makes limits the ability to implementiterative advanced receiver techniques at the evolved node B thatiterates between the signal equalization and FEC decoder stage. Someexamples of such advanced receivers are multi-user serial interferencecancellation (MU-SIC), turbo equalizer (e.g., ML turbo equalizer of MMSEturbo equalizer).

A C-RAN architecture that allows for an advanced receiver in the C-RANarchitecture can be implemented without having to increase the bandwidthlinearly with the number of transmission units. System 300 can compriseanalog to digital conversion components 102, 106, which can convert oneor more received analog signals to digital signals prior to sending theconverted digital signal(s) to a fast Fourier transform component 104,108 to convert a time domain signal to frequency domain signal(s) at theRRU.

The RRU can also comprise the resource de-mapping components 112, 114,which can separate various physical channels and reference signals fromthe time-frequency grid of resource equipment. Based on received signalsfrom the resource de-mapping components 112, 114, the multi-antennaestimation component 110 can estimate a MIMO channel response as well asthe noise plus interference co-variance needed for equalizationde-mapping. The multi-antenna estimation component 110 output signalscan then be passed to a spatial compression component 302. The spatialcompression component 302 can reduce the number of physical layers 228that are transported over the RRU to the BBU interface from a number oftransceivers to a number of spatial layers. At the BBU, a correspondingspatial decompression component 304 can then recover the number oflayers, thereby allowing the BBU to perform channel estimation andequalization with the full number of transceivers. The signals can thenbe passed to a multi-antenna equalizer component 116. The multi-antennaequalizer component 116 can separate the various MIMO layers from thereceived signals across all the transceivers. This step could be alinear receiver such as MMSE-IRC or a non-linear receiver such as ML.With regards to FIG. 3, the multi-antenna equalizer component 116 canreceive signals from a second multi-antenna estimation component 306.The second multi-antenna estimation can also estimate a MIMO channelresponse as well as the noise plus interference co-variance needed forequalization de-mapping in accordance with the BBU.

Additionally, the multi-antenna equalizer component 116 output can betransmitted to symbol de-mappers 118, 120 that can convert signals fromthe complex signal in a C^(Nc) domain to soft bits (e.g. log likelihoodratio for each channel bit). Furthermore, output signals from the symbolde-mappers 118, 120 can be received as inputs at rate matching HARQcombining FEC decoders 122, 124. Rate matching can match the channelbits to the rate expected at the input of the FEC decoder 122, 124. TheFEC decoders 122, 124 can also circulate soft information bits foriterative decoding and hard information bits for the final iteration.Additionally, if any HARQ is used the combining of differenttransmissions can happen at this stage, but the HARQ combining dependson the type of FEC. For example, for polar codes the HARQ combining isdifferent than what it is for turbo codes. With regards to the FIG. 3architecture, the extrinsic symbol likelihood component 126 can receiveoutput signals from the FEC decoders 122, 124 and can compute extrinsicvalues (e.g. for SIC receiver the extrinsic symbol likelihood component126 can compute the soft symbol or for turbo equalizer the extrinsicsymbol likelihood component 126 can computes statistical parameters suchas expectation and signal covariance). The extrinsic values can then beoutput to the multi-antenna equalizer component 116 to process.

Referring now to FIG. 4, illustrated is a general overview of possibleradio access network protocol split options. Protocol layers 400 thatreside at the centralized unit can be virtualized in a pooledarchitecture, thereby enabling benefits related to a software definednetwork (SDN) and/or network function virtualization (NFV) based networkarchitecture. Consequently, it can be beneficial to split the protocollayers 400 as low in the protocol stack as possible.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, illustrated is a remote unit side and acentralized unit side of a generalized view of physical level functionswith a physical split. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an example advancediterative receiver for the uplink with a PHY split using a linearcompression technique capable of satisfying the aforementionedrequirements for the uplink. A linear spatial compression technique canreduce the number of PHY layers that are transported over the RU-CUinterface from a number of transceivers to a number of spatial layer.System 500 can comprise analog to digital conversion components 102,106, which can convert one or more received analog signals to digitalsignals prior to sending the converted digital signal(s) to sub-bandfilter components 502, 504, 508, 510. The sub-band filter components502, 504, 508, 510 can then send the signals to fast Fourier transformcomponents 104, 108, 506, 512 to convert a time domain signal tofrequency domain signal(s) at the RRU. The RRU can also comprise theresource de-mapping components 112, 114, which can separate variousphysical channels and reference signals from the time-frequency grid ofresource equipment. Based on received signals from the resourcede-mapping components 112, 114, the multi-antenna estimation component110 can estimate a MIMO channel response as well as the noise plusinterference co-variance needed for equalization de-mapping. Themulti-antenna estimation component 110 output signals can then be passedto an MMSE Equalizer component 512. The MMSE Equalizer component 512 canreduce the number of PHY layers that are transported over the RRU to theCU interface from a number of transceivers to a number of spatiallayers.

At the CU at system 600, a corresponding reverse MMSE pre-codercomponent 602 can then recover the number of transmission layers,thereby allowing the CU to perform channel estimation and equalizationwith the full number of transmission dimensions. It is possible thatthere can be some degradation in performance as the compressionde-compression stage can introduce some errors, however the reduction inbandwidth, due to this approach, is likely to outweigh any degradation.Moreover, this approach may make it feasible to achieve a good PHY splitoption that satisfies all three aforementioned scenarios. Specifically,the linear compression technique proposed in this with regards to FIGS.5 and 6 is shown as two new components. The minimum mean square error(MMSE) equalizer component 514 can reduce the signal dimension to numberof spatial layers and transmit signal dimension data to the reverse MMSEpre-coder component 602 to augment the signal dimension back to thenumber of spatial layers up to the full dimension corresponding to thenumber of transceivers. The RU, which performs the MMSE equalization,can pass in MMSE filter weights to the CU, which can then generate thereverse MMSE pre-coder, which can be the inverse of an MMSE equalizermatrix. There can also be two channel estimation blocks, one in the RUto aid the MMSE equalization and another in the CU to perform MIMOequalization.

The reverse MMSE pre-coder component 602 can pass signals to amulti-antenna equalizer component 116. The multi-antenna equalizercomponent 116 can separate the various MIMO layers from the receivedsignals across all the transceivers. This step could be a linearreceiver such as MMSE-IRC or a non-linear receiver such as ML. Themulti-antenna equalizer component 116 can receive signals from a secondmulti-antenna estimation component 306. The second multi-antennaestimation can also estimate a MIMO channel response as well as thenoise plus interference co-variance needed for equalization de-mappingin accordance with the BBU. Furthermore, the multi-antenna equalizercomponent 116 can send output signals to a layer de-mapper (1D/2D DFTpre-coding) component 604. In case of non-orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexed (OFDM) based waveforms, this step can be used to transformthe signal back to the signal processing domain (e.g., time domain forsignal carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA)) ordelay-doppler domain for one time frame (OTFS). Signal outputs from thelayer de-mapper (1D/2D DFT pre-coding) component 604 can be received byto symbol de-mappers 118, 120 that can convert signals from the complexsignal in a C^(Nc) domain to soft bits (e.g. log likelihood ratio foreach channel bit). Furthermore, output signals from the symbolde-mappers 118, 120 can be received as inputs at rate matching HARQcombining FEC decoders 122, 124. Rate matching can match the channelbits to the rate expected at the input of the FEC decoder 122, 124. TheFEC decoders 122, 124 can also circulate soft information bits foriterative decoding and hard information bits for the final iteration.Additionally, if any HARQ is used the combining of differenttransmissions can happen at this stage, but the HARQ combining dependson the type of FEC. For example, for polar codes the HARQ combining isdifferent than what it is for Turbo codes. With regards to the FIG. 6architecture, the extrinsic symbol likelihood component 126 can receiveoutput signals from the FEC decoders 122, 124 and can compute extrinsicvalues (e.g. for SIC receiver the extrinsic symbol likelihood component126 can compute the soft symbol or for turbo equalizer the extrinsicsymbol likelihood component 126 can computes statistical parameters suchas expectation and signal covariance). The extrinsic values can then beoutput to the multi-antenna equalizer component 116 to process.

Referring now to FIG. 7, illustrated is a flow diagram for compressingphysical layers of a radio access network. At element 700, a method cancomprise converting (e.g., via a fast Fourier transform component 104)time signal data of the wireless network to frequency signal data,resulting in time-frequency data representative of a time-frequency datastructure. At element 702, the method can comprise separating (e.g., viaresource de-mapping components 112) a physical channel and a referencesignal from the time-frequency data structure, resulting in a number ofseparated physical layers. In response to the separating, estimating(e.g., via a multi-antenna estimation component 110) channel responsecharacteristics and antenna characteristics of the wireless network atelement 704. Additionally, based on the channel response characteristicsand the antenna characteristics, compressing (e.g., via a spatialcompression component 302) the number of the separated physical layersat element 706, resulting in a reduced number of the separated physicallayers.

Referring now to FIG. 8, illustrated is a flow diagram for compressingand decompressing physical layers of a radio access network. At element800, a system can convert time signal data of the wireless network tofrequency signal data (e.g., via a fast Fourier transform component104), resulting in time-frequency data representative of atime-frequency data structure. At element 802, the system can separate aphysical channel from the time-frequency data structure (e.g., viaresource de-mapping components 112), resulting in a number of separatedphysical layers. Based on the separating, the system can estimate achannel response characteristic and an antenna characteristic of thewireless network at element 804 (e.g., via a multi-antenna estimationcomponent 110). In response to the estimating, the system can compressthe number of the separated physical layers (e.g., via a spatialcompression component 302), resulting in a reduced number of theseparated physical layers at element 806, and in response to thecompressing, the system can decompress the reduced number of theseparated physical layers (e.g., via a spatial decompression component304).

Referring now to FIG. 9, illustrated is a flow diagram for compressingand decompressing physical layers of a radio access network based on afilter weight. At element 900 the machine-readable medium can transformtime signal data representative of a time signal of a wireless networkto frequency signal data representative of a frequency signal of thewireless network (e.g., via a fast Fourier transform component 104),resulting in time-frequency data, and extract physical channel datarepresentative of a physical channel from the time-frequency data (e.g.,via resource de-mapping components 112), resulting in a number ofseparated physical layers at element 902. Based on the extracting,estimating a channel response characteristic and an antennacharacteristic of the wireless network at element 904 (e.g., via amulti-antenna estimation component 110). At element 906, themachine-readable medium can compress the number of the separatedphysical layers (e.g., via a spatial compression component 302),resulting in a reduced number of the separated physical layers.Additionally, the machine-readable medium can generate filter weightdata representative of a filter weight associated with the compressingat element 908 (e.g., via a spatial compression component 302).Furthermore, in response to the generating, the machine readable mediumcan decompress the reduced number of the separated physical layers atelement 910 (e.g., via a spatial decompression component 304).

Referring now to FIG. 10, illustrated is a flow diagram for compressingand decompressing physical layers of a radio access network based on afilter weight and a signal noise. At element 1000 the machine-readablemedium can transform time signal data representative of a time signal ofa wireless network to frequency signal data representative of afrequency signal of the wireless network (e.g., via a fast Fouriertransform component 104), resulting in time-frequency data, and extractphysical channel data representative of a physical channel from thetime-frequency data (e.g., via resource de-mapping components 112),resulting in a number of separated physical layers at element 1002.Based on the extracting, estimating a channel response characteristicand an antenna characteristic of the wireless network at element 1004(e.g., via a multi-antenna estimation component 110). At element 1006,the machine-readable medium can compress the number of the separatedphysical layers, resulting in a reduced number of the separated physicallayers (e.g., via a spatial compression component 302). Additionally,the machine-readable medium can generate filter weight datarepresentative of a filter weight associated with the compressing atelement 1008 (e.g., via a spatial compression component 302).Furthermore, in response to the generating, the machine readable mediumcan decompress the reduced number of the separated physical layers atelement 1010 (e.g., via a spatial decompression component 304), whereinthe channel response characteristic is a signal noise associated with areference signal at element 1012.

Referring now to FIG. 11, illustrated is a schematic block diagram of anexemplary end-user device such as a mobile device 1100 capable ofconnecting to a network in accordance with some embodiments describedherein. Although a mobile handset 1100 is illustrated herein, it will beunderstood that other devices can be a mobile device, and that themobile handset 1100 is merely illustrated to provide context for theembodiments of the various embodiments described herein. The followingdiscussion is intended to provide a brief, general description of anexample of a suitable environment 1100 in which the various embodimentscan be implemented. While the description includes a general context ofcomputer-executable instructions embodied on a machine-readable storagemedium, those skilled in the art will recognize that the innovation alsocan be implemented in combination with other program modules and/or as acombination of hardware and software.

Generally, applications (e.g., program modules) can include routines,programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform particulartasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the methods described herein canbe practiced with other system configurations, includingsingle-processor or multiprocessor systems, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices,microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, and the like,each of which can be operatively coupled to one or more associateddevices.

A computing device can typically include a variety of machine-readablemedia. Machine-readable media can be any available media that can beaccessed by the computer and includes both volatile and non-volatilemedia, removable and non-removable media. By way of example and notlimitation, computer-readable media can comprise computer storage mediaand communication media. Computer storage media can include volatileand/or non-volatile media, removable and/or non-removable mediaimplemented in any method or technology for storage of information, suchas computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules orother data. Computer storage media can include, but is not limited to,RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD ROM,digital video disk (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magneticcassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magneticstorage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store thedesired information and which can be accessed by the computer.

Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated datasignal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includesany information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example,and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as awired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such asacoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the anyof the above should also be included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

The handset 1100 includes a processor 1102 for controlling andprocessing all onboard operations and functions. A memory 1104interfaces to the processor 1102 for storage of data and one or moreapplications 1106 (e.g., a video player software, user feedbackcomponent software, etc.). Other applications can include voicerecognition of predetermined voice commands that facilitate initiationof the user feedback signals. The applications 1106 can be stored in thememory 1104 and/or in a firmware 1108, and executed by the processor1102 from either or both the memory 1104 or/and the firmware 1108. Thefirmware 1108 can also store startup code for execution in initializingthe handset 1100. A communications component 1110 interfaces to theprocessor 1102 to facilitate wired/wireless communication with externalsystems, e.g., cellular networks, VoIP networks, and so on. Here, thecommunications component 1110 can also include a suitable cellulartransceiver 1111 (e.g., a GSM transceiver) and/or an unlicensedtransceiver 1113 (e.g., Wi-Fi, WiMax) for corresponding signalcommunications. The handset 1100 can be a device such as a cellulartelephone, a PDA with mobile communications capabilities, andmessaging-centric devices. The communications component 1110 alsofacilitates communications reception from terrestrial radio networks(e.g., broadcast), digital satellite radio networks, and Internet-basedradio services networks.

The handset 1100 includes a display 1112 for displaying text, images,video, telephony functions (e.g., a Caller ID function), setupfunctions, and for user input. For example, the display 1112 can also bereferred to as a “screen” that can accommodate the presentation ofmultimedia content (e.g., music metadata, messages, wallpaper, graphics,etc.). The display 1112 can also display videos and can facilitate thegeneration, editing and sharing of video quotes. A serial I/O interface1114 is provided in communication with the processor 1102 to facilitatewired and/or wireless serial communications (e.g., USB, and/or IEEE1394) through a hardwire connection, and other serial input devices(e.g., a keyboard, keypad, and mouse). This supports updating andtroubleshooting the handset 1100, for example. Audio capabilities areprovided with an audio I/O component 1116, which can include a speakerfor the output of audio signals related to, for example, indication thatthe user pressed the proper key or key combination to initiate the userfeedback signal. The audio I/O component 1116 also facilitates the inputof audio signals through a microphone to record data and/or telephonyvoice data, and for inputting voice signals for telephone conversations.

The handset 1100 can include a slot interface 1118 for accommodating aSIC (Subscriber Identity Component) in the form factor of a cardSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) or universal SIM 1120, and interfacingthe SIM card 1120 with the processor 1102. However, it is to beappreciated that the SIM card 1120 can be manufactured into the handset1100, and updated by downloading data and software.

The handset 1100 can process IP data traffic through the communicationcomponent 1110 to accommodate IP traffic from an IP network such as, forexample, the Internet, a corporate intranet, a home network, a personarea network, etc., through an ISP or broadband cable provider. Thus,VoIP traffic can be utilized by the handset 800 and IP-based multimediacontent can be received in either an encoded or decoded format.

A video processing component 1122 (e.g., a camera) can be provided fordecoding encoded multimedia content. The video processing component 1122can aid in facilitating the generation, editing and sharing of videoquotes. The handset 1100 also includes a power source 1124 in the formof batteries and/or an AC power subsystem, which power source 1124 caninterface to an external power system or charging equipment (not shown)by a power I/O component 1126.

The handset 1100 can also include a video component 1130 for processingvideo content received and, for recording and transmitting videocontent. For example, the video component 1130 can facilitate thegeneration, editing and sharing of video quotes. A location trackingcomponent 1132 facilitates geographically locating the handset 1100. Asdescribed hereinabove, this can occur when the user initiates thefeedback signal automatically or manually. A user input component 1134facilitates the user initiating the quality feedback signal. The userinput component 1134 can also facilitate the generation, editing andsharing of video quotes. The user input component 1134 can include suchconventional input device technologies such as a keypad, keyboard,mouse, stylus pen, and/or touch screen, for example.

Referring again to the applications 1106, a hysteresis component 1136facilitates the analysis and processing of hysteresis data, which isutilized to determine when to associate with the access point. Asoftware trigger component 1138 can be provided that facilitatestriggering of the hysteresis component 1138 when the Wi-Fi transceiver1113 detects the beacon of the access point. A SIP client 1140 enablesthe handset 1100 to support SIP protocols and register the subscriberwith the SIP registrar server. The applications 1106 can also include aclient 1142 that provides at least the capability of discovery, play andstore of multimedia content, for example, music.

The handset 1100, as indicated above related to the communicationscomponent 810, includes an indoor network radio transceiver 1113 (e.g.,Wi-Fi transceiver). This function supports the indoor radio link, suchas IEEE 802.11, for the dual-mode GSM handset 1100. The handset 1100 canaccommodate at least satellite radio services through a handset that cancombine wireless voice and digital radio chipsets into a single handhelddevice.

Referring now to FIG. 12, there is illustrated a block diagram of acomputer 1200 operable to execute a system architecture that facilitatesestablishing a transaction between an entity and a third party. Thecomputer 1200 can provide networking and communication capabilitiesbetween a wired or wireless communication network and a server (e.g.,Microsoft server) and/or communication device. In order to provideadditional context for various aspects thereof, FIG. 12 and thefollowing discussion are intended to provide a brief, generaldescription of a suitable computing environment in which the variousaspects of the innovation can be implemented to facilitate theestablishment of a transaction between an entity and a third party.While the description above is in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions that can run on one or more computers,those skilled in the art will recognize that the innovation also can beimplemented in combination with other program modules and/or as acombination of hardware and software.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personalcomputers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can beoperatively coupled to one or more associated devices.

The illustrated aspects of the innovation can also be practiced indistributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can belocated in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically include a variety of media, which caninclude computer-readable storage media or communications media, whichtwo terms are used herein differently from one another as follows.

Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and includes both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media can be implementedin connection with any method or technology for storage of informationsuch as computer-readable instructions, program modules, structureddata, or unstructured data. Computer-readable storage media can include,but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memorytechnology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical diskstorage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, or other tangible and/or non-transitorymedia which can be used to store desired information. Computer-readablestorage media can be accessed by one or more local or remote computingdevices, e.g., via access requests, queries or other data retrievalprotocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the informationstored by the medium.

Communications media can embody computer-readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other structured or unstructured data ina data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrier wave orother transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery ortransport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signals refers to asignal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed insuch a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By way ofexample, and not limitation, communication media include wired media,such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless mediasuch as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

With reference to FIG. 12, implementing various aspects described hereinwith regards to the end-user device can include a computer 1200, thecomputer 1200 including a processing unit 1204, a system memory 1206 anda system bus 1208. The system bus 1208 couples system componentsincluding, but not limited to, the system memory 1206 to the processingunit 1204. The processing unit 1204 can be any of various commerciallyavailable processors. Dual microprocessors and other multi processorarchitectures can also be employed as the processing unit 1204.

The system bus 1208 can be any of several types of bus structure thatcan further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 1206includes read-only memory (ROM) 1227 and random access memory (RAM)1212. A basic input/output system (BIOS) is stored in a non-volatilememory 1227 such as ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basicroutines that help to transfer information between elements within thecomputer 1200, such as during start-up. The RAM 1212 can also include ahigh-speed RAM such as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 1200 further includes an internal hard disk drive (HDD)1214 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which internal hard disk drive 1214 can also beconfigured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), amagnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 1216, (e.g., to read from or write to aremovable diskette 1218) and an optical disk drive 1220, (e.g., readinga CD-ROM disk 1222 or, to read from or write to other high capacityoptical media such as the DVD). The hard disk drive 1214, magnetic diskdrive 1216 and optical disk drive 1220 can be connected to the systembus 1208 by a hard disk drive interface 1224, a magnetic disk driveinterface 1226 and an optical drive interface 1228, respectively. Theinterface 1224 for external drive implementations includes at least oneor both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1294 interfacetechnologies. Other external drive connection technologies are withincontemplation of the subject innovation.

The drives and their associated computer-readable media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 1200 the drives and mediaaccommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digital format.Although the description of computer-readable media above refers to aHDD, a removable magnetic diskette, and a removable optical media suchas a CD or DVD, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat other types of media which are readable by a computer 1200, such aszip drives, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, cartridges, and thelike, can also be used in the exemplary operating environment, andfurther, that any such media can contain computer-executableinstructions for performing the methods of the disclosed innovation.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 1212,including an operating system 1230, one or more application programs1232, other program modules 1234 and program data 1236. All or portionsof the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 1212. It is to be appreciated that the innovation canbe implemented with various commercially available operating systems orcombinations of operating systems.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 1200 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 1238 and apointing device, such as a mouse 1240. Other input devices (not shown)may include a microphone, an IR remote control, a joystick, a game pad,a stylus pen, touch screen, or the like. These and other input devicesare often connected to the processing unit 1204 through an input deviceinterface 1242 that is coupled to the system bus 1208, but can beconnected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 2394serial port, a game port, a USB port, an IR interface, etc.

A monitor 1244 or other type of display device is also connected to thesystem bus 1208 through an interface, such as a video adapter 1246. Inaddition to the monitor 1244, a computer 1200 typically includes otherperipheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 1200 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections by wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 1248. The remotecomputer(s) 1248 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentdevice, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer,although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device 1250 isillustrated. The logical connections depicted include wired/wirelessconnectivity to a local area network (LAN) 1252 and/or larger networks,e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 1254. Such LAN and WAN networkingenvironments are commonplace in offices and companies, and facilitateenterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all of which mayconnect to a global communications network, e.g., the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 1200 isconnected to the local network 1252 through a wired and/or wirelesscommunication network interface or adapter 1256. The adapter 1256 mayfacilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 1252, which mayalso include a wireless access point disposed thereon for communicatingwith the wireless adapter 1256.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 1200 can includea modem 1258, or is connected to a communications server on the WAN1254, or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN1254, such as by way of the Internet. The modem 1258, which can beinternal or external and a wired or wireless device, is connected to thesystem bus 1208 through the input device interface 1242. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer, orportions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device1250. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areexemplary and other means of establishing a communications link betweenthe computers can be used.

The computer is operable to communicate with any wireless devices orentities operatively disposed in wireless communication, e.g., aprinter, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portable dataassistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment or locationassociated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand,restroom), and telephone. This includes at least Wi-Fi and Bluetooth™wireless technologies. Thus, the communication can be a predefinedstructure as with a conventional network or simply an ad hoccommunication between at least two devices.

Wi-Fi, or Wireless Fidelity, allows connection to the Internet from acouch at home, a bed in a hotel room, or a conference room at work,without wires. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology similar to that used in acell phone that enables such devices, e.g., computers, to send andreceive data indoors and out; anywhere within the range of a basestation. Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b,g, etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fast wireless connectivity. AWi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to theInternet, and to wired networks (which use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet).Wi-Fi networks operate in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands, atan 11 Mbps (802.11a) or 54 Mbps (802.11b) data rate, for example, orwith products that contain both bands (dual band), so the networks canprovide real-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wiredEthernet networks used in many offices.

Traditional C-RAN architecture can require the amount of bandwidthneeded to connect the centralized baseband unit (BBU) and the remoteradio unit (RRU) to increase linearly with number of antenna ports andthe system bandwidth. For example, from a 20 MHz LTE carrier with 2Txantenna to a 100 MHz 5G carrier with 32TxRU, the bandwidth requirementof the fronthaul goes up by a factor of 5×16=80.

One of the major drawbacks of such a PHY split is that advancedreceivers such as SIC (serial interference cancellation) or Turboequalizers cannot be implemented in the uplink (UL). These advancedreceivers iteratively wash the signal between the multi-antennaequalization and FEC stages. In the split RAN architecture this wouldimply sending the signal iteratively between the RRU and BBU severaltimes (up to 4-8 times). Not being able to implement an advancedreceiver could severely hamper the coverage and capacity of the UL,which is of significant concern given that 5G systems can be deployed inhigher frequency bands compared to LTE where the propagation is worse tobegin with. Traditionally CIPRI uses 15+15 bits to represent the I and Qbranches of the received signal. However with this spatialcompression/decompression technique, as small as 5+5 bits can be usedwhere the decompression stage can clean quantization noise.Consequently, from the reduction in the number of streams, an additional3× reduction can be achieved in the fronthaul bandwidth due to the noisetolerance of the decompression stage.

Therefore, the traditional C-RAN architecture with all basebandprocessing centralized is not feasible for 5G. As a result, a split RANarchitecture where some of the baseband processing can be moved to theRRU can mitigate this issue. However in order to preserve most of thegains from centralization and virtualization the minimum amount ofbaseband processing should be placed at the radio resource unit (RRU)and yet reduce the bandwidth requirement of the fronthaul. As a result,the most C-RAN friendly split RAN architecture for 5G is where all ofthe multi-antenna processing is performed at the RRU and the rest of thebaseband processing is performed at the RRU. This reduces the fronthaulbandwidth, which, in this case, scales with the number of spatial layersand not the number of antennas (TxRU). In massive MIMO systems thenumber of spatial layers is much less, typically around 2-4. This is afactor of 16× or 8× less than the number of antennas, which means thatthe front haul bandwidth is reduced by the same amount.

The above description of illustrated embodiments of the subjectdisclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intendedto be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments to the preciseforms disclosed. While specific embodiments and examples are describedherein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possiblethat are considered within the scope of such embodiments and examples,as those skilled in the relevant art can recognize.

In this regard, while the subject matter has been described herein inconnection with various embodiments and corresponding FIGS., whereapplicable, it is to be understood that other similar embodiments can beused or modifications and additions can be made to the describedembodiments for performing the same, similar, alternative, or substitutefunction of the disclosed subject matter without deviating therefrom.Therefore, the disclosed subject matter should not be limited to anysingle embodiment described herein, but rather should be construed inbreadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims below.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: separating, by firstnetwork equipment comprising a processor, physical channel data andreference signal data from a time-frequency data structurerepresentative of time-frequency data; separating, by the first networkequipment, physical layers, resulting in a first number of separatedphysical layers; in response to separating the physical layers,estimating, by the first network equipment, channel responsecharacteristics and antenna characteristics of other network equipment,other than the first network equipment and comprising second networkequipment; based on the channel response characteristics and the antennacharacteristics, compressing, by the first network equipment, the firstnumber of the separated physical layers, resulting in a second number ofthe separated physical layers smaller than the first number; and inresponse to compressing the first number of the separated physicallayers, facilitating, by the first network equipment, processing acomplex output signal to determine a ratio associated with a channel bitassociated with the second network equipment, and facilitating, by thefirst network equipment, matching the channel bit to an expected ratefor data to be received by the second network equipment to reduce datastreams, from a first number of data streams to a second number of datastreams less than the first number of data streams, to be transportedfrom the first network equipment to the second network equipment.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: decompressing, by the firstnetwork equipment, the second number of the separated physical layers tothe first number of the separated physical layers.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein decompressing the second number of the separatedphysical layers comprises decompressing the second number of theseparated physical layers in accordance with a third number oftransceivers.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: converting,by the first network equipment, time signal data of the network tofrequency signal data, resulting in the time-frequency data structure.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel response characteristicscomprise an interference co-variance associated with the referencesignal.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the separating comprisesseparating using a linear receiver.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinthe separating comprises separating using a non-linear receiver.
 8. Asystem, comprising: a processor; and a memory that stores executableinstructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitateperformance of operations, comprising: separating a physical channeldata from a time-frequency data structure; separating physical layersresulting in a number of separated physical layers; based on separatingthe physical layers, estimating a channel response characteristic and anantenna characteristic of first network equipment converting a complexsignal to a ratio associated with a channel bit of second networkequipment; and matching the channel bit to an expected rate to bereceived as an input to the second network equipment to facilitatereducing a number of data streams from a first number of data streams toa second number of data streams to be transported from the first networkequipment to the second network equipment.
 9. The system of claim 8,wherein decompressing results in a recovery of the number of separatedphysical layers.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: initiating a channel estimation associated with theestimating the channel response characteristic.
 11. The system of claim8, wherein the operations further comprise: facilitating a channelequalization associated with the channel estimation.
 12. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: converting time signaldata of the first network equipment to frequency signal data, resultingin time-frequency data represented by the time-frequency data structure.13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: inresponse to estimating the channel response characteristic, compressingthe number of separated physical layers, resulting in a reduced numberof separated physical layers that is less than the number separatedphysical layers.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: decompressing the reduced number of separated physicallayers in response to the compressing the number of separated physicallayers.
 15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprisingexecutable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitateperformance of operations, comprising: transforming time signal datarepresentative of a time signal of first network equipment to frequencysignal data representative of a frequency signal of the first networkequipment, resulting in time-frequency data; extracting physical channeldata representative of a physical channel from the time-frequency data;separating physical layers, resulting in a number of separated physicallayers; based on a reduced number of the separated physical layers lessthan the number, facilitating converting a complex signal to a ratioassociated with a channel bit at a second network equipment; based onthe reduced number of the separated physical layers, facilitatingmatching the channel bit to an expected rate to be received as an inputto the second network equipment to facilitate reducing a first number ofdata streams to a second number of data streams, less than the firstnumber of data streams, to be transported from the first networkequipment to the second network equipment; generating filter weight datarepresentative of a filter weight associated with the reduced number ofthe separated physical layers; and in response to generating the filterweight data, decompressing the reduced number of the separated physicallayers to the number of the separated physical layers.
 16. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein theoperations further comprise: estimating channel response characteristicsand antenna characteristics of the first network equipment.
 17. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the channelresponse characteristics comprise an interference co-variance associatedwith a reference signal.
 18. The non-transitory machine-readable mediumof claim 15, wherein the filter weight data is received from radio unitequipment.
 19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15,wherein the operations further comprise: based on extracting thephysical channel data, estimating a channel response characteristic andan antenna characteristic of the first network equipment.
 20. Thenon-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15, wherein theoperations further comprise: compressing the number of the separatedphysical layers, resulting in the reduced number of the separatedphysical layers less than the number.